The Unknown Citizen: WH Auden

 

5. Poem: The Unknown Citizen by WH Auden

About the poet

       W. H. Auden was born on February 21, 1907, in York, England. He was a brilliant writer, playwright, librettist, editor, and essayist. The “Age of Anxiety” saved Auden the Pulitzer Prize in 1948. He died of heart failure at the age of 66 in Vienna, Austria.

Main theme of the Poem

The Unknown Citizen deals with the effect of science and technology on man in society. It was first published in The Listener on August 3, 1939, and later included in the Collected Shorter Poems in 1950. Science and the growth of various other disciplines like psychology, sociology, etc, have brought many benefits to man, but at the same time, he stands much poorer. Commenting on the poem, Dennis Davison writes, "The Colloquial Language and the everyday allusions to Frigidaire, radios, installment plans, trade unions, etc, make one immediately at home with this poem".

The pre-scientific society left much scope for the individuality of man, but in the modern age of science and technology, he has been reduced to the position of a part of the machine. All his feelings and thoughts are manipulated by those who operate the machines of propaganda and persuasion. Man, in the modern age, is losing his power of independent thinking. He leads an unknown and obscure life. In the poem, Auden paints a picture of such an unknown man in modern society.

Summary of the poem

"The Unknown Citizen" by W. H. Auden consists of nine stanzas. Each stanza varies in the number of lines, contributing to the overall structure and rhythm of the poem. The poem deals with man in the modern age of science and technology, which forces him to conform to a standard pattern of life and thought. Modern mass organizations such as the factories or the trade unions impose uniformity on the individual and this is strengthened by the press and the educational system One such man gets killed in war and the state has erected a monument in memory of this unknown citizen. During the whole of his active career, there was no official complaint against him. He was a royal servant of the system. He always tried to serve society. Before the war, he worked in a factory and he was never rebuked or dismissed from his job. He always won praise for his sincerity. He was popular with his friends and liked a drink.

Like any other man in the modern age, he read a newspaper every day. He reacted to the advertisements in the usual way of being guided by them in making purchases. He had all the things supposed to be necessary for modern living, like a car, a radio, a phonograph, and a refrigerator. He was guided by the trend of thought set by the newspapers and other media of propaganda. During peacetime, he advocated the cause of peace, and when war broke out, he went to the front like many others. He led the kind of family life led by millions of others. He added five children to the population - a number supposed to be the right for a parent of his generation. As a student, he was very docile and never questioned his teachers on any issue. We get the man swallowed up by the system. Whether such a man could have freedom or happiness is an absurd question, as they are not relevant issues for a modern man who has become quite mechanical in his actions, thoughts, and feelings.

Auden's attempt to show how the average person is pressed into conformism by all social forces is made to ignore that within modern society, there are often deep conflicts between these social forces. Apart from the devious conflicts of Labour and Capital, there are population problems and supply and demand problems in a society in which 'advertisement' and 'producers' demand free-spending, whereas the boom-slump economy produces unemployment and periods of strictness. These and other profound conflicts, which are equally characteristic of modern mass society, as are the conformist influences, make the average citizen prey to dangerous forces which Auden should not have ignored.

Possible Questions and Answers

1.      What does the number JS/07/M/378 suggest?

It is a number by which the state identifies the unknown citizen. After his death, this number was inscribed on the marble monument created on his grave. But here, Auden severely satirizes the modern state policy where the value of a man is reduced to a number, and people lose their individuality. What is more striking is that such a number is given to a prisoner in jail. Perhaps, here, Auden knocks at the human brain to know to what extent we have degraded as a result of losing our dignity and having bureaucracy rule our country.

2.      What do you know about unknown citizens?

The unknown citizen was a man against whom there was no official complaint. He worked in a factory and satisfied his employers. He paid his dues duly. Trade union reports are in favor of him. He was preferred by his mates. He liked drinking, and like a modern man, he possessed a gramophone, a radio, a car, and a refrigerator. He was aware of the installment plans. He added 5 children to the population of the world. He had a health card and insurance policies. All these show that he was a saint-like man in the modern sense of the old-fashioned word. But what is tragic is that despite having all these qualities, he was not regarded as a good man by the state authority.

3.      Give the meaning of ‘eugenist’ and ‘scab. ’ Where did the unknown citizen work?

Eugenist means an expert on race improvement. Some specialist scientists always work on the specialization of human breeding and are given this term. This is purely a biological term. The term ‘scab’ means slang or rascal. It also means one who refuses to join his fellows in a strike. The unknown citizen worked in The Fudge Motors Inc., a modern factory undoubtedly.

4.      What question made about the unknown citizen is absurd? Was he free and happy?

The unknown citizen was a slave to his duties. He performed them duly. He always worked in such a style that no one could question him. As a result of this, forgetting all the affairs, he had to move within a routine boundary where no escape was possible. He never thought of going beyond that to retain his dignity. Now, if anybody asks “Was he free?” or “Was he happy?” undoubtedly, these will be absurd questions. Because there was no question of freedom or happiness in his life. Despite doing good deeds, he was not valued as a man. So, if he looked for those things, then his condition is simply perceptible to us. As he was a mere puppet in the hands of bureaucracy, his freedom or happiness was unquestionable.

5.      What is the main theme of “The Unknown Citizen” by W. H. Auden?

The main theme of the poem is the dehumanizing and conformist nature of modern society, where individuality is sacrificed for the sake of societal norms and expectations.

6.      Who is the speaker of the poem?

The speaker is a government official or bureaucrat who is assessing the life and accomplishments of the “unknown citizen.”

7.      What does the poem suggest about the relationship between the individual and society?

The poem suggests that in a conformist society, individuals are expected to fit into prescribed roles and adhere to societal norms. Individuality and personal expression are sacrificed for the sake of conformity.

8.      What are some specific accomplishments and qualities attributed to the “unknown citizen” in the poem?

The poem lists several accomplishments and qualities, such as being “a saint,” “a good patriot,” and having “a grade A for breeding.” It also mentions his conformity to societal norms, including his marriage, children, and consumption habits.

9.      How does the poem comment on the role of government in shaping the lives of its citizens?

The poem implies that the government in this society plays a significant role in shaping the lives of its citizens by promoting conformity and evaluating individuals based on their ability to conform to societal norms.

10.  What is the overall message or moral of “The Unknown Citizen”?

The poem serves as a warning about the dangers of conformism and the loss of individuality in modern society. It encourages readers to question societal expectations and value individuality and personal expression.

***

Click for Next Lesson: https://limbuchandrabahadur.blogspot.com/2025/04/augustus-does-his-bit-george-bernard.html